Brilliant Benefits of Walking to School

Did you know there’s a way you can keep fit, be mindful, help the environment and have fun at the same time? How? It’s by walking to school!

Friday 20th of May is National Walk Safely to School Day, where kids and parents are encouraged to put their walking shoes on and walk to school safely.

A recent study found 70% of parents drive their kids to school, yet 60% would prefer their kids to walk. That’s why, if you can, we encourage everyone to take part in Walk Safely to School Day.

Now in its 23rd year, this event promotes safer walking practices and road safety awareness for kids and their community.

So, what are some of the benefits of walking to school?

Better fitness
With 4 out of 5 Australian kids not getting the recommended 1 hour of physical activity a day, walking to and from school is a great way to guarantee exercise five days a week.
Regular walking helps build healthier, stronger bones, muscles and joints, as well as better performing heart and lungs.
Plus, making walking part of their routine helps set them up for a life of healthier habits.

Cleaner environment
Walking to school means you not only don’t have to deal with the congestion at the school gates but you’re helping to reduce the number of cars on our roads.
It’s also a great way to start a conversation with kids about the importance of clean air and the effects our daily activities have on climate change.
The result? Less fumes, cleaner air, less stress for you and a better world for our kids. Win-win!

Social benefits
When walking to school, kids will often bump into other kids along the way. This can lead to new friendships, improved social skills and possibly even a walking buddy for your child.
Over time, the parents in your area might organise a walking school bus, where parents take it in turns to walk all the kids in the street to school.

Road safety skills
With your guidance, kids will gain incredibly valuable knowledge of road safety rules as they walk to school.
Be sure to hold their hand, teach them to look left, right and left again before crossing the road, and encourage them to pay attention to traffic and signs—you are instilling habits that will help keep them safe well into adulthood.

Mindful moments
Starting the day with a walk is a fantastic was for kids to practice mindfulness.
Burning off some of that excess energy in the morning can improve concentration in the classroom, helping kids get more out of their school day.
Walking home after school also helps kids to wind down and transition from school to home.

Let’s all walk to school this Friday
Join us and thousands of other families this Friday 20th May as we walk our kids to school. Plan a safe route for your kids, create fun challenges to get their steps up and always remember to look both ways and stay safe.


Tips for overcoming roadblocks
We live too far for my child to walk to school: Try parking a few streets away from school and walk the rest of the way.

I’m too worried about my child’s safely. Making sure to supervise your child’s walks until they’re ready to walk by themselves. Having a device with a GPS tracker is a great way track their progress and give you some peace of mind. With Spacetalk’s Safe Zones, their device can even notify you when your child arrives at school!